[Endometriosis in adolescents: analysis of 6 cases].

OBJECTIVE

To review the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis in adolescents and to evaluate the surgical and medical treatment options for this special population.

METHOD: To review the 6 cases of adolescent endometriosis and to review the literature research.

RESULTS

Three hundred and ninety nine cases under age 18 had undergone gynecological operation. So the incidence among this period is 1.8% (6/339) in hospitalized adolescents. Four cases have complicated genital tract anomalies. Preoperative diagnosis is rare. Good prognosis is expected in most patients. Only 1 case relapsed 9 years after medical therapy. Endometriosis is the most common cause of chronic pelvic pain in adolescents. There may be a natural progression of endometriosis from atypical lesions in adolescents to classic lesions in adults. Congenital abnormalities of the reproductive tract are the main reason for the adolescent endometriosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Endometriosis should be strongly suspected in adolescent with chronic pelvic pain especially with no response to oral contraceptives and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory medicine. The treatment involves the surgical operation and medicine. Adolescence;